John Cletheroe's
USA and Canada Holiday Hints
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Other Motel Chains in the USA and Canada
Days Inn
We do not generally recommend Days Inn as we have personally found them to be relatively expensive and of very variable quality.
Microtel Inns
Microtel Inns is a new motel chain. At the moment most of their locations are in the east and the mid-west, but according to their directory many more locations are due to open soon.
Properties have two or three floors and interior corridors. One report that I received describes Microtel rooms as being "unique; very compact, but clean and well designed".
The Microtel directory quotes a range of prices at each location instead of one fixed price, a policy which in my opinion leads to a bargaining process while checking in that nearly always leaves you thinking you've been cheated. In fairness I ought to say that this policy is hardly unique to Microtel.
Microtel's rates seem quite reasonable at some locations but very expensive at others.
We haven't stayed in a Microtel, but they might be worth a try.
Sleep Inns/Comfort Inns/Quality Inns/EconoLodge/Friendship Inns/Rodeway
Moving a little up market relative to Motel 6 and
Super 8, the Sleep Inns/Comfort Inns/Quality Inns/EconoLodge/Friendship Inns/Rodeway chains, all run by the same company but at different pricing levels, offer quite good value at some locations, although standards and prices vary between locations quite considerably.
As a general rule, and there may be exceptions, Sleep Inn is usually the least expensive brand in this group.
Suisse Chalet
In New England, where the budget motel chains are not so frequently encountered, the Suisse Chalet chain is recommended although their prices are somewhat above the Motel 6/Super 8 level.
Independent Motels
Don't ignore the possibilities offered by independent motels, both in the USA and Canada.
The style of independent motels varies enormously, from the simple but often very pleasant and cost effective "mom and pop" motels (run by a family) to the luxurious (and expensive!).
Because independent motels are not members of chains, making advance reservations is obviously not possible or indeed desirable unless you are familiar with both the area and the property.
Canada
In Canada, where there are less budget motel chains, we recommend that you obtain the extremely useful accommodation guides published by each province. These can be obtained free of charge from, amongst other sources, the "Welcome Centres" often found as you enter a province on a main highway. In Canada, as in the US, there are usually quite a few independent motels to choose from in even the smallest town, and most of these offer excellent value for money.
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As with all the other pages on this personal web site, all the information on this page is solely the opinion of the author, who has no connection whatsoever with any of the companies and organisations mentioned other than as an actual or potential customer.
About this personal web site JohnCletheroe
EMail me Please note that I do not represent any of the motel chains mentioned on this page (or any other company or organisation) in any way and I cannot assist with requests for directories, reservations, details of locations, etc.
Most recently modified 30-Apr-00